Rapidly growing Gulf soccer star gets a scholarship to Division II's Lenior-Rhyne after dazzling its coach in a March workout.
By STEVE LEE
Published May 28, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - Gulf center-midfielder Jerred Bagwill no longer is known as Jeremy's little brother.
Lenior-Rhyne men's soccer coach Bobby Ladimir can attest to that.
Bagwill, who grew from 5-foot-9 as a junior to his current 6-foot frame, still is shorter than his 6-3 brother, who played for Ridgewood (Class of 1994) and Saint Leo. But Ladimir was so impressed by Bagwill's aggressive play at a March tryout that he made an offer.
Bagwill signed an academic/athletic scholarship worth about $20,000 on May 21.
"The tryout definitely did it," said Ladimir, a former Hudson standout. "He came up and he laid it on people."
Bagwill, who played three seasons at River Ridge before transferring to Gulf as a senior, will join former Gulf midfielder Alex Maric, who this season led the Division II school in Hickory, N.C., with five goals and 12 points.
"I'll know somebody up there, so it won't be like I'm by myself," Bagwill said.
Ladimir said that his team plays a possession game and that Bagwill should fit right in.
"He plays simple soccer, short give-and-go passes," Ladimir said.
Bagwill is the third person in his family to earn a scholarship. In addition to Jeremy's deal with Saint Leo, Jessica, a 1998 River Ridge graduate, earned a scholarship for gymnastics with Southwestern Missouri.
Bagwill tallied four goals and 13 assists for 21 points as a River Ridge junior. Following his growth sport, he netted career highs at Gulf with 12 goals, 27 assists and 51 points. His assists led the county.
"I got the ball more," Bagwill said.
Being a goal scorer is new to Bagwill, a sweeper on his club team, the Tampa Bay Kickers, who have won four state championships in the past five seasons.
Before that Bagwill played soccer in the West Pasco Youth Soccer Association and at River Ridge Middle. Only once did he try another sport, basketball as a River Ridge eighth-grader.
"It's pretty much my life. That's all I do is play soccer and go to school," Bagwill said.
Bagwill carries a 3.1 grade-point average and plans to major in business.
